U's Squad Taking shape

Manager Joe Dunne has had a busy week in the transfer market, along with overseeing the first week of pre-season training.

Three new additions were announced on Tuesday, with Sean Clohessy, Ben Gordon and Chris Lewington putting pen to paper on their two year contracts.

Boss Dunne was pleased with the day's work, saying: "We have three good additions and they come into important positions we lost players in over the summer."

Clohessy and Gordon are right and left backs respectively, and Dunne has been an admirer of both for a while.

"Sean was someone I have admired since his youth team days and he has added attributes to his game as he's got older.

"He's twenty seven now, which is a great age, and it's important because of the youthful age generally of our squad.

"Ben was in the same Chelsea team as Sam walker and Billy Clifford so I saw him quite a bit.

"He has been on loan at bigger clubs and the Scottish Premiership requires a lot of energy and tenacity, it needs a player to have a lot of character.

"Both are attacking full backs and I'm glad they're both here with us."

Looking to play behind the new duo of fullbacks, keeper Chris Lewington has come in to stake his claim for a starting berth come the beginning of the season.

And Dunne said his new signing will be given every opportunity, saying: "I have two quality keepers and they can fight it out for the number one spot. If one is playing, he'll know he has to perform because the other is more than capable of replacing him."

"Chris has been extremely consistent in the past few years and as soon as I found out he was available, I jumped at the chance."

As well as the three new faces, Wright and Josh Thompson extended their time in north Essex, both signing one year contracts.

"He played a lot of games, some in different positions," Dunne said of Wright, "and that will again be important for us."

And after a frustrating season for Thompson, the U's boss explained that the centre half will provide something valuable to the squad.

"He has proved his fitness to me and we're happy that he is back with us in pre-season and getting plenty of work done.

"He has a great presence, is immensely strong and adds height in both boxes. We haven't got the tallest of squads so it will be important to have Josh with us."